Tag Archives: Isabeli Fontana

I get a lot of sunscreen inquiries, but haven’t loved any one product enough to drop a full-on endorsement on my faithful DC readers. Either the SPF isn’t high enough, the finish is too greasy, or the product rubs off and burns my eyes. For example, I really wanted to like this Alba Organics SPF 30, but in addition to causing eye irritation, it migrates and you end up tasting it. This creates a grossly unpleasant and uncomfortable experience, especially during any kind of physical activity.In response to dissatisfaction with all the obvious big players (Neutrogena, Coppertone, Aveeno), the pendulum swung way to the other end of the spectrum, and I invested in this Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral SPF 30. The plastic end houses peachy colored powder that dispenses through the brush. First off, when the product arrived it was difficult to tell if any actual powder trickled down through the bristles. I pulled off the end and dumped half the product on the floor. At around $30 bucks (on clearance now as low as $12), $15 was wasted by this careless accident – super annoying for sure! Can’t really blame PTR, but the mistake soured my overall impression. The powder formulation skirts the typical perils of cream or oil sunscreen as mentioned above. It doesn’t run into the eyes or mouth. Instant mineral isn’t greasy, and it doubles as a loose powder by providing a matte finish. The main drawback is it is difficult to tell if you’ve achieved adequate coverage. Furthermore, like most other sunscreens, it sweats off. I don’t hate this product, but it is most useful as a scalp sunscreen. It doubles as a dry shampoo and crown protector. Sun-roof and convertible babies, this one is for you. Of all the sunscreens tested (far more than discussed here), Ocean Potion Face SPF45 Clear Zinc Oxide is my favorite. Unlike many carcinogenic sunscreen ingredients readily absorbed into the blood stream and linked to hormone disruption, zinc oxide is an inorganic compound which provides complete UVB/UVA protection, has anti-inflammatory properties, and is considered a safe sunscreen ingredient. It is also about the only sunblock approved by the FDA for children under 6 months of age. This particular light weight cream absorbs easily and does NOT leave that weird white film many of us associate with standard zinc oxide sunscreens. The best part? This stuff is very reasonably priced. Find this one ounce jar widely available for less than $2, and with a little research, bargain hunters can track it down for only $.67!